Rhea Perlman of 'Cheers' to star in Northlight show

Rhea Perlman, the actress best known for playing Carla on the NBC comedy "Cheers," is to star in a show at the Northlight Theatre in Skokie this spring.

Perlman will play Stella in the world premiere of "Stella & Lou," a new three-character drama by Bruce Graham to be directed by BJ Jones. Penned by the author of "The Outgoing Tide" (which starred John Mahoney at Northlight), "Stella & Lou" is a bittersweet romance set in a Philadelphia bar; Perlman plays a single nurse who is friendly with a widower, played by Francis Guinan, who owns the establishment.

Perlman is not the first former "Cheers" cast member to ply the boards at Northlight; she is treading in the footprints of George Wendt. "Stella & Lou" opens May 10.